1 . The African penguin is expected to go extinct in the wild in just over a decade, given its current population decline. The main reason is a lack of food caused by disturbance to ocean conditions from global heating and competition from the commercial fishing industry. According to a study, scientists have identified a possible additional cause, one that is an entirely new threat and that further prevents the penguins from finding food: noise pollution from marine (海洋的) ships in a bay.
Since 2016, a new shipping practice has started at Algoa Bay. The bay offers ship-to-ship refueling for ships anchored offshore. Since the start of this practice, marine traffic in the bay has doubled. The number of bulk carriers (散货船) pulling into the bay has increased by ten times as much. Thus the noise levels in the area had doubled and the population of penguins has dropped sharply. High noise levels affect the ability of marine animals to find food, communicate or navigate properly.
Researchers used data from ship identification tools to estimate underwater noise from passing ships. They also attached underwater microphones and accelerometers (感应器) to some of the penguins. Recording the noise will tell researchers what the penguins are hearing, if they’re talking while hunting, if they’re changing their movements in response to noise, and if the noise is drowning out their hunting conversations. This will allow researchers to determine whether the sound disturbance is a direct cause of the penguins’ ongoing difficulties in finding sufficient food.
The study is the first to explore the effects of ocean traffic noise pollution on seabirds and the consequences of offshore shipping activities on underwater noise levels. Experts are considering proposing various global best-practice approaches to reduce some of the impacts of noise pollution, such as policies that limit the number and size of ships allowed into a bay of this kind. “We also need more scientific monitoring of noise, before these measures are put in place and afterward, so that we have a proper understanding of what works.” a researcher said.
1. What is caused by the noise pollution?| A．The penguins’ lack of food. |
| B．The penguins’ proper navigation. |
| C．People’s communication disability. |
| D．The commercial competition. |
| A．Because they wanted to study the way of relieving marine traffic pressure. |
| B．Because they could determine and analyze the source of ocean noise pollution |
| C．Because it helped to calculate underwater noise levels caused by different ships. |
| D．Because the impact of ocean on penguins’ hunting behavior could be found. |
| A．By exploring the real effects of ocean traffic. |
| B．By restricting the ships to go into the bay. |
| C．By banning all the offshore shipping activities. |
| D．By increasing ship-to-ship refueling activities. |
| A．Evaluate the risk of the noise. |
| B．Establish a monitoring system. |
| C．Put the measures in place. |
| D．Try to understand what happens. |
2 . Workers at an Indian startup company are busy cutting metal into pieces and using them to make unusual devices.Company officials say these devices will capture smoke from diesel (柴油) generators and turn it into ink.Young engineers believe the technology will help to clean up the air in New Delhi，India's capital.Its air quality is among the dirtiest in the world.
People often blame the millions of cars on the streets of New Delhi for the air pollution.But another big reason is the city's diesel generators.Industries and buildings use the huge machines to light up homes and offices during power outages.These outages often strike in the summer months.
Arpit Dhupar is one of the three engineers who set up the startup company Chakr Innovation.He says that pollution from cars and other vehicles gets all the media attention，but adds that “the silent polluters are the diesel generators”. Dhupar decided to find a way to fight air pollution three years ago.At the time，he saw a wall blackened from the smoke coming from a diesel generator.This sight led to the creation of Chakr Innovation.Dhupar had personally experienced the effect of the air pollution.He developed breathing problems while growing up in Delhi.
After over two years of research and development，Chakr Innovation has begun selling devices to capture pollution from diesel generators.To date，the devices have been set up in 50 places，including private businesses.
The technology involves cooling the air pollution in a “heat exchanger” where the dirty particles come together.These are then moved into another area that captures 70 to 90 percent of the particulate (微粒的) matter.The carbon is isolated from the emissions and turned into ink.
In recent years，there has been a lot of talk about improving Delhi's air by reducing vehicular pollution and making stronger rules for vehicle manufacturers.But the same has not happened for diesel generators.There are efforts to punish businesses that dirty the air，but this often leads to them finding ways to get around the rules.
Tushar Mathur works at Chakr Innovation.He feels that turning smoke into ink is a useful solution.He calls the technology “a winwin between businesses and the environment”.
1. What do we know about the devices from Paragraph 1?| A．They are made in a big company. |
| B．They are cut into pieces of metal. |
| C．They can turn dirty smoke into ink. |
| D．They will certainly clean up the dirty air. |
| A．March | B．July |
| C．September | D．December |
| A．The determination to fight air pollution. |
| B．The development of breathing problems. |
| C．The media attention to vehicular pollution. |
| D．The sight of a wall blackened by smoke. |
| A．By cooling the polluted air. |
| B．By isolating the emissions. |
| C．By moving the dirty particles. |
| D．By capturing the particulate matter. |
